Lead With Moral Courage
[The following points have been adapted/revised from Dr. Evertt W. Huffard (Vice President/Dean and Professor, Harding Graduate School Religion) 2006-2007 Catalog]
In his book Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Chambers observed that, “Courage of the highest order is demanded of spiritual leaders—always moral courage and frequently physical courage as well†(Page 86).
As our world continues to slide into self-serving relativism, as families lose their stability…the cry for courage to lead grows louder. As good men and women hesitate to lead at all levels because we are such terrible followers, the courage to lead continues…As leaders at all levels seem to lack the will or strength to do what is right…models of courageous leadership becomes more difficult to find. To be people of moral courage is Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 16:13 and 2 Timothy 1:7: “be men of courage†and “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-disciplineâ€
1. The courage to lead starts within our own souls (Mark 10:43-44).
2. Leadership in the home requires courage (Deuteronomy6:7-9).
3. Leading a church takes more courage than managing one (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15).
One reason for the decline in churches is overmanagement and underleadership. Too many congregations lack members with courage to confront conflict or assume responsibility for fear of criticism.
Lead your family today as the leader that God knows you can be. Lead with moral courage.
– Robert M. Housby